French Austral Lands and Seas
Natural
1603
2019
Natural
French Austral Lands and Seas is a UNESCO World Heritage natural, inscribed in 2019 (WHS 1603).
Criteria & Perimeter
Inscription criteria
(vii)(ix)(x)
Category
Natural
Summary
The French Austral Lands and Seas comprise the largest of the rare emerged landmasses in the southern Indian Ocean: the Crozet Archipelago, the Kerguelen Islands, Saint-Paul and Amsterdam Islands as well as 60 small sub-Antarctic islands. This ‘oasis’ in the middle of the Southern Ocean covers an area of more than 166 million ha and supports one of the highest concentrations of birds and marine mammals in the world. In particular, it has the largest population of King Penguins and Yellow-nosed albatrosses in the world. The remoteness of these islands from centres of human activity makes them extremely well-preserved showcases of biological evolution and a unique terrain for scientific research.
Monuments in the Zone
Selection of protected monuments
- Eglise Saint-Martin de Talcy — Talcy
- Logis seigneurial de Parçay — Parçay-Meslay
- Maison dite maison du Porche — Chémeré-le-Roi
- Ancien manoir de Rocheux — Mondoubleau
- Vieux Château de Senonches — Senonches
- Château de Toisy de La Chapelle-Vendômoise — La Chapelle-Vendômoise
- Hôtel de Jean Galland, ou Babou de la Bourdaisière — Tours
- Château de Chamerolles — Chilleurs-aux-Bois
- Sépulture mégalithique à l'entrée latérale du Petit-Vieux-Sou — Brecé
- Château du Gros Chesnay — Fillé
- Restes de l'ancienne église Saint-Martin — Graçay
- Château de Pouzieux de Châtillon-sur-Indre — Châtillon-sur-Indre
- Eglise de Chigné — Chigné
- Château de Touvent de Châteauroux — Châteauroux
- Maison de Richelieu — Richelieu
Appellations of the Landscape
Most-reviewed Loire appellations
| Appellation | Avg score | Reviews | Color |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sancerre | 89.3 | 554 | White |
| Muscadet Sèvre et Maine | 88.6 | 237 | White |
| Pouilly-Fumé | 89.6 | 153 | White |
| Vouvray | 88.4 | 153 | White |
| Touraine | 86.3 | 85 | White |
| Chinon | 88.7 | 72 | Red |
| Menetou-Salon | 87.3 | 69 | White |
| Crémant de Loire | 87.5 | 54 | Sparkling |
| Val de Loire | 85.6 | 41 | White |
| Saumur | 88.4 | 40 | White |
| Anjou | 87.6 | 36 | White |
| Rosé d'Anjou | 84 | 35 | Rosé |
Data source: UNESCO World Heritage Centre (data.culture.gouv.fr). Last updated: April 14, 2026.